Improvement in toy whirligigs



(A... 4M G m 5 R u 0. E. STELLER. Toy Whirligigs.

No. 196,838. Patented Nov; 6 I877.

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UNITE STATES PATENT Osmon- CHARLES E. STELLER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOY WHIRLIGIGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,838, dated November 6, 1877; application filed June 7, 1877. c

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OHARLESE. STELLER, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, in

v the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain Improvements in Toy Whirli gigs, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to afford amusement in the shape of a toy, It is an improve ment on the invention patented to me February 6, 1877, for the same purpose as stated in my specification-viz., to give a rapid rotary motion, first in one direction and then in the other, to various objects or ornaments placed upon the revolving table or disk, so that when the ornaments are printed with bright colors, and the shaft and table are revolved, a very pleasing and beautiful efiect will be produced.

The object of this invention is to produce another article of manufacture of a more simness, so as to suit all classes of purchasers.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my invention with bird and wire representing a cage. Fig. 2 is a top view of the table with colored disks on the same at equal distances from the center of the table. Fig. 3 is a view of dog and squirrel upon wires in holes in the table; and Fig. 4, a top view of the revolving table, with feathers standing in holes and paper slips hung on pins.

The Whirligig consists of a revolving table, B, of oval, round, or'any suitable form, in the center of which is a shaft, (3, working in a socket in the stand or handle A, and revolved by drawing -cord.-M.

The shaft may be made of a hollow metal tube, working on a wire pin fastened in the stand.

D is an opening in the stand at its top, larger than shaft 0, and around the same, so that the cord M, when relaxed to wind up, shall not bind at the upper end when the shaft enters the stand. The oval shape of the table is preferable on account of convenience in packing.

The ornaments consist of disks E E, of stiff paper or other suitable material, with bright colors printed on them, and placed on wire pins at equal distances from the center of the table, in such manner that each one of the colored disksfindependent of the other, will revolve and change its position with every change of motion of the table. The colors will thereby constantly change position toward each other in the whirling circles, and produce a most 'beauiiful'wheel of mixed colors in distinct lines, as well as blended together in an almost unlimited variety of changing hues and tints. The colors on the disks are arranged in curves or bands E across one of them, concentric with the'table or shaft, representing the rainbow colors, and the other divided in' sections contrasting from the edge to the cen- I ter of the disk. It will be seen that by this arrangement the most distinct and beautiful lines of contrasting colors'are produced. The disks may be used, the two with rainbow colors on them together, or two with sectional colors, or alternately, as shown in the drawmgs.

For observing the mixing of colors more minutely, a wire pin, 0, is placed in hole P of the table, and the eye pressed down on the colored disks, where they will remain stationary. The red on the two rainbow disks fastened toward the center of the table will show a wheel of rainbow colors in distinct successive lines. When moved a little sidewise the colors will be seen blended together. Pin 0 is placed in the foot of the stand for safe-keeprapid velocity.

This toy may be used with colors alone, or may be made with various other-detachable objects, secured to the revolving table in smaller or larger holes, as desired, and such objects should be placed in such positions as to balance on the revolving table, or nearly so. Q is a hole near the center of the table, and R a hole on the opposite side, a little farther from the center. 1 in Fig. 1 is a bird made of thin sheet metal, secured in the coil of a wire, the Wire placed in hole Q; H, a bent wire in-the form of half a bird-cage in section, and placed in hole B. When revolved the objects are seen, in proper light, duplicated, and the view of a bird-cage with two birds in it "is produced. G in Fig. 3 represents a dog hung loosely on a wire and inserted in hole R. N is a squirrel secured to wire F loosely, so as to slide up and down. The wire is bent about ten degrees from a perpendicular outside, so that by the whirling motion the squirrel will ascend to the top of the wire, being the farthest point from the center, flying away from the dog, that will assumean attitude of attack. L L in Fig. 4 are feathers placed in any of the holes. The same, being light, flexible, and fibrous, will assume fanciful and amusing forms, motions, and colors. U U,

Fig. 4, are strips of thin card-paper, which, i

when revolved briskly, will make a humming sound. I

By this construction, by pulling cord M slowly or briskly, as required, to unwind it from shaft 0, a rapid rotation will be given to the shaft 0 and table B, the momentum of which will be sufficient to again wind up the cord in the opposite direction, so that by alternately pulling upon the cord M and slack- 'ening it, thetable-B- and the objects attached substantially as specified.

2. The disk E, mounted eccentrically upon the table or shaft, and provided with the transverse curved and colored bands E drawn concentric with said table or shaft, substantially as described. V

3. In combination with a perforate table or support, B, the pivoted animal figure G and sliding animal figure N, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

4. In combination withrdisks E E and table B, the wire'pin O, to retard the revolution of the disks, substantially as described.

5. The stand or handle A, with enlarged hole or countersink D at the top of handle A, as and for the purpose substantially as specified.

p CHARLES E. STELLER. 

